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There was impressive effectiveness about the way the Italian side dealt with this journey to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Rome did, however, meet favourable opposition when placing their Europa League bid back on track. Observers noted a obvious difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers squad that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven European games consecutively.

To their credit, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a second half when capitulation felt the more likely option. Yet, the game was decided as a competition by then. The Scottish club remain anchored at the bottom of the tournament, which should represent an disgrace to a club of such stature. Roma have eyes once more on achieving significant success. Their only regret in this match was in not delivering a result appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this marked only Roma’s second European joust with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in the early 60s. The previous one, against Dundee United 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the corruption of a match official. In those days, Scottish clubs could compete with the top sides in Europe. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a level that will shortly have major consequences.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute so far as the Rangers support are concerned is that he is not Russell Martin. The latter’s ghastly spell as the manager continued for just over four months in the initial phase of the campaign. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has shown promise though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas saw a clash of generations; Röhl is thirty-six, his opposite number the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

Another element was far more striking as the sides lined up. Rangers’ glaring short stature against the Italians looked ominous. That concern was confirmed within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante comfortably redirected a corner at the near post. Following up, the Argentine winger burst forward to fire his team ahead. A Roma team minus the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for bluntness despite decent performances in the tournament, were delighted with their early advantage.

Rangers should have equalised instantly. Rather, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s £8m signing from the Toffees has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physical attributes to be an effective centre forward but seems reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit dominated opening period the ball from that point. They doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will lament the fact the midfielder was left in complete freedom but it was a superb finish. Ibrox, usually a raucous place on continental evenings, had been silenced nine minutes until halftime. The discontent which met the half-time whistle were subdued; the home team were simply in the process of being outclassed.

After the break started against a unusual atmosphere. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions for the latest time towards the top executive, the CEO, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, clearly sinister in tone, depicted the duo with targets on their faces. One wonders what the club owner thinks about all this. After all, the chairman enjoyed an low-profile life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before leading a takeover of this club. Paying punters have not turned on Cavenagh so far but there is a rebellious feeling around the club. It is one which is unsurprising; The team’s leadership is completely unconvincing.

Right on cue, Chermiti was sent through on goal on the 60-minute mark and found only the side netting. This actually triggered Rangers’ finest spell of the match, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. Yet, however, difficult to gauge Roma’s remaining attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was given a chance all of a yard out which he somehow hit up and onto the underside of the bar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut chances were concerned. The raft of substitutions from each side resulted in this game closed more in the style of a summer exhibition than competitive match. That scenario benefited the Italians fine. It prompted reflection to ponder how exactly Rangers, runners-up in this competition in recently and worthy of the quarter-finals a last year, reached the stage of just participating.